The host and the protagonist had a happy ending again [Quick Transmigration]

Xu Ran gave half of the memorial to Pei Guan, and the two of them wrote their comments, remaining silent for a moment.

Xu Ran enjoyed the time he spent alone with Pei Guan. After finishing reviewing the last memorial, he looked at the man sitting upright.

Pei Guan paused slightly, then presented the memorial to Xu Ran with both hands: "Your Majesty, I have finished reviewing it. If there are no errors, Your Majesty can affix your seal."

Pei Guan wouldn't make any mistakes. Xu Ran smiled and opened a memorial: "You are the regent, so your seal is the same."

"Pei Guan..."

Xu Ran's smile vanished completely, and he sighed helplessly.

"Why are you using my handwriting to review memorials?"

The handwriting on the two memorials was almost identical; anyone who saw them would surely think they were written by the same person.

Pei Guanwei paused slightly, then calmly said, "Your Majesty, I have failed to consider this matter thoroughly."

Why? Naturally, it was to reduce the Regent's influence in the court, so that his disappearance wouldn't cause too much of a stir.

"Using my handwriting and my seal, is the Regent trying to do my bidding for nothing?" Xu Ran's tone was full of disappointment; he even wanted to slap the memorial on Pei Guan's forehead!

What does it mean to work for free? Pei Guan didn't understand.

But His Majesty's words didn't seem to be directed at him, and he really didn't know how to react.

Although there was a Grand Tutor, the young emperor was mostly taught by Pei Guan. Since his handwriting was in the same vein as Pei Guan's, it was easy for Pei Guan to imitate him.

Thinking this, Xu Ran felt a little jealous. Why didn't he come two years earlier?

The usually composed regent seemed overly nervous. Xu Ran sighed, "Alright, it's getting late. You should go back to your residence."

Pei Guanru, as if granted a general amnesty, said, "Your subject takes his leave."

"Oh, right," Xu Ran said, a smile flashing in his eyes as he looked at the man's slightly stiff figure, "remember to bring the seal tomorrow."

Is there a tomorrow? Pei Guan had no idea what Xu Ran was up to.

He behaved terribly today, feeling extremely uncomfortable in His Majesty's presence.

At the age of fifteen, he returned home to find his parents' bodies. When the morale of his army was low, he donned heavy silver armor and faced tens of thousands of enemy cavalry. The soft flesh next to his teeth was bitten and blood was spread, but he swallowed it all without showing any sign of distress.

He won that battle and never felt uneasy again.

His father said that the Pei family should serve the country and its people, and even in death, they should not dishonor the family's reputation. So he listened to his father and diligently raised a future emperor.

Until the emperor has the ability to protect the land and the people.

He personally handed the knife that would kill him to the emperor, believing he would face death with equanimity.

However, after only half a day together, he was unusually at a loss.

He abandoned his vigilance against His Majesty's murderous intent, and what took advantage of his vulnerability was a bewildering display of trust and concern.

Suppressing his complicated thoughts, he avoided the gaze of several palace servants and went to a secluded spot in the palace where few people went.

In the following days, Xu Ran always had Pei Guan stay for meals, and then unceremoniously gave him half of the memorials.

The court officials naturally noticed that the regent had begun to review the memorials again, and rumors began to circulate.

  

Although Pei Guan was almost silent that year, merely holding the empty title of regent, his previous prestige was still very high, and even if some people had ideas in their hearts, they dared not act rashly.

*

Entertainment in ancient times was monotonous. After finishing watching "Country Love Story," I finally found a good movie last night and stayed up late. As a result, I was a little tired when I went to court this morning.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

Xu Ran looked down at the righteous-looking middle-aged man below, Zhang Daoquan, the Minister of Revenue. This man had caused a lot of trouble later, and they hadn't found a chance to deal with him yet, but he had delivered himself to their doorstep.

"Zhang Qing speaks frankly."

Zhang Daoquan's voice was loud and clear, his words earnest: "Your Majesty! Although this old minister admires the Regent, now that Your Majesty has assumed personal rule, how can the Regent continue to usurp power!"

As he spoke, he knelt down: "In the past, His Majesty was young, and the Regent's review of memorials was a helpless act. Now, however, it is unreasonable, especially since he has left his seal on the memorials!"

His words were utterly malicious, practically accusing Pei Guan of disloyalty.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Xu Ran looked at Pei Guan sitting to the side. Faced with such accusations, he remained calm, only silently rising and bowing when he received Xu Ran's gaze.

"Your Majesty, I have indeed overstepped my bounds. If you wish to punish me, I will have no complaints."

Xu Ran's tone was slightly cold: "The Regent should indeed be punished."

Pei Guan's heart trembled. It should have been this way... but for no reason, he felt a sense of grievance.

The courtiers: As expected, His Majesty is about to make trouble for the Regent!

"I ordered you to review the memorials. Since you're trying to slack off, then you'll review all of them today. You're not allowed to return home until you've finished!"

Pei Guan looked up in shock. Those dark eyes under the glass crown held a mischievous smile and were staring at him without blinking.

His Majesty is protecting him...

This is almost impossible, yet it happened so naturally.

The courtiers: Wait, what? What did His Majesty just say he would punish?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Daoquan panicked: "Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

"My health is poor," Xu Ran said leisurely, "I cannot overwork myself. Minister Zhang is preventing the Regent from helping me review memorials; is he trying to hasten my death?"

Zhang Daoquan's vision went black; no one had ever said His Majesty was unwell!

His legs went weak. "Your Majesty, I have no such intention! Your Majesty is wise! I am utterly loyal..."

Xu Ran impatiently interrupted him: "Minister Zhang harbors considerable resentment towards the Regent, presumably because the Regent rejected your proposal to allocate funds for road repairs in your memorial the other day, right?"

Zhang Daoquan was startled, but he forced himself to reply, "Your Majesty, I would never dare to resent the Regent. Every word I spoke just now was entirely for Your Majesty's benefit, without any selfish motives! As for the road construction, it's truly because the weather will be cold in the coming days, and I fear it will cause great inconvenience to the people!"

"I am deeply moved by Minister Zhang's concern for the people, but—" Xu Ran changed the subject.

"Is Minister Zhang planning to bury the remaining silver under my nose by doubling the amount allocated?"

Xu Ran's tone was calm and even, but her words scared Zhang Daoquan half to death.

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, almost to the ground. "Your Majesty, I...I..."

"Perhaps Minister Zhang's eyesight is failing with age," Xu Ran said with a slight smile. "I am considerate of my subjects; perhaps I should allow Minister Zhang to retire and return to his hometown?"

This was the first time this person had embezzled, and they couldn't find anything when they searched his house. Xu Ran wouldn't kill him outright, but he wouldn't be allowed to continue holding an important position either.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me! I will never dare to do it again!"

Xu Ran nodded to himself: "The position of Minister of Revenue will be filled by Zhao Ji, the Vice Minister of Revenue."

Zhao Ji was suddenly called out by name and hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

Xu Ran ignored Zhang Daoquan, who was slumped on the ground below: "That's enough for today, court adjourned!"

After saying that, he stood up abruptly. The glass in front of him swayed, and he locked onto the person, saying softly, "Follow me. You will be punished today."

The man's lips tightened instantly. What punishment...?